Torque operated mechanism



April .2, 1935. 'A G. TREMOLADA 1,996,312

` y IORQUE OPERATED -MECHANISM Original File Oct. l0, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 A rra/Nan `April` 42, 1935. G. TREMOLADA 1,996,312

, TORQUE OPERATED'MECHNISM original Filed oct. 1o, 1932 4 sheets-sheet 3 A fro/UVEK April 2, 1935# G. TREMOLADA'" 1,996,312

' -ToQU'E OPERATED MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 10, 1932` 4 Sheets-sheet 4 Patented Apr. 2, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Guglielmo Tremolada,

Los Angeles, Calif., as-

signor to Emsco Derrick & Equipment Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Original application October 10, 1932, Serial No.

637,106. Divided and this application September 23, 1933, SerialNo. 690,751

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a torque-operating. mechanism and this application is a division of my copending application entitled Control mechanism, Serial No. 637,106, filed October l0, 1932.

The present invention is a torque-operated mechanism or torque-control mechanism which is disclosed in my copending application referred to above as a part of the combination disclosed and claimed therein. The invention which constitutes the subject-matter vof this presentapplication is adapted for use in various other combinations and on various other apparatus, and it is torque-operated mechanism which is actuated when a certain predetermined torque is transmitted from a drive means to a driven means.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a torque-actuated mechanism in which a switch or other control mechanism may be actuated when the torque transmitted from a drive means to a driven means reaches a certain value.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a torque-operated mechanism in' which a positive driving connection may be established through the device. As pointed out in my copending application referred to above, during the starting of an electric motor the starting torque is in excess of the normal operating torque. If

the torque-operated mechanism is designed to perform its function when the normal operating torque is exceeded, then it would be impossible to put the device into operation because it requires a starting torque in excess of the operating torque. In my invention I provide a means whereby the torque-operated mechanism may provide a positive driving connection which is very useful during starting conditions.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a novel combination of torque-responsive means and switch or other control device, which I combination operates to deenergize the drive It is an object of this invention to provide aA means of the combination when a predetermined torque is exceeded.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a torque-operated mechanism which is adapted to transmit torque from a drive means to a driven means and in which, when the torque increases above a certain amount, a part of the torque-operated mechanism will move relative to another part thereof. In the preferred form of my invention when this movement occurs, the switch is opened in order to deenergize the drive means, thus shutting down the apparatus.

It is another object of my invention to provide a means for adjusting the amount of torque which may be transmitted through my invention without causing an actuation thereof.

. It is a still further object of my invention to provide a device of the character described in which the movable member when it moves a certain distance establishes a positive driving engagement between the members of my invention, thus causing the drive means to positively drive the driven means through the torque-operated mechanism of my invention.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device in which the various parts thereof may be enclosed and provided with ample lubrication.

Other objects of my invention and the advantages thereof will be pointed out in the course of the ensuing description of the details of a preferred form of my invention:

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an oil pumping mechanism on which my invention is employed.

Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the mechanism disclosed in Fig. 1 which operates the oil pumping apparatus.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view partly sectioned showing a reduction unit of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 on which is installed a torque-operated mechanism which incorporates the features of my invention.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the torque-operatedl mechanism of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken through a torque switch which forms a part of the combination of this invention and which is used in conjunction with the mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the torque switch taken as indicated by the arrow 1 of Fig. 6.

Ajournaled .on the inner sleeve 41. 'between the parts 41 and`48 is a cam `meansoor In order that the features and advantages of my invention may be clearly and fully understood, I have disclosed my present invention as applied to an oil pumping apparatus such as is shown in copending application referred to heretofore. It should be understood, however, that the complete apparatus is disclosed solely for illustrative purposes and not for the purpose of limiting my invention to the combination which I have chosen to illustrate the features and advantages of my invention.. Fora more complete explanation of the entire pumping apparatus, reference should be had to my copending application referred` to above.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 25 represents a standard type ofV walkingbeam which is pivotally mounted at 2| on the upper end of a Samson post 22. The end 23 of the walking beam l5 projects over the upper end of a well having a pump tubing 25 mounted therein.A Extending from the end 23 of the walking beam 25 is a stringof sucker rods 25 which extends downward through the pump tubing 25 and is cone.

nected at its lower end to a reciprocable plunger 21 which operates in a pump barrel 28.V An oscillation of the walking beam 28 causes the pump plunger 2i to reciprocate and to raise oil to the surface of the ground through the puinp tubing ,Y 2,5. The end 29 Yof the walking beam 28 is connected to the .upper end of a pitman 3D, which' pitman V35 acccrdingrto common practice may include a counterweight 3l. The lower end ofthe pitinan 35 is pivotally secured by a pivotpin 32 to a walinng beam crank 33.Vr A rotation of the walking beam crankSS` produces a reciprocation of the A,walking beam 28 with the result that the pumpincr mechanism previously described will raise oil to the surface of the ground.

The walking beam crank 33 is connected to and 'forms appart of a reduction gear unit 34 which may be of any standard design.V This reduction gear unit r34 may be broadly referred to as a driven means andvby use of this term, I intend tomean any apparatus which is driven by a drive means in order to accomplish a useful purpose.

Since my invention is not. limited to the oilproducir.'j industry nor to any particular type ofv I ing ci the driven means34 and an end 43 thereof has secured thereto a torque-responsive means or torque-operated mechanism 44 which constitutes an essential part of the present invention. Referring new to Figs. 4 and 5, I will describe the details of construction of the torque-'operated' mechanism or my invention.

` Rigidly secured on the end 43 ofthe shaft 40 is aninner vsleeve 41 which constitutes a driven member or driven element of the torque-operated mechanism. Surrounding this inner sleeve 41 is -an outer sleeve or body 48 which constitutes a drive means or drive element of the torque-operated mechanism. This body 48 surrounds and is Cooperating interconnecting means generally designated by the numeraifig through which the body. 4B drives the inner sleeve 41, andby means of which a certain relative' movement between the parts is accomplished under'certain conditions as will be pointed out in the course of this description. In the form ofY my invention disclosed herein this cam means is provided in the form of square threads 5U which extend outwardly from the inner sleeve 41 and are in interengagement with Y square threads 5l formed on and extended inwardly from the inner part of the body 48, the square threads 50 tting in helical channels provided between the square threads 5l and the square threads 5| fitting between helical channels provided between the square threads 5). Formed as a part of the body 48 is a cylindrical projection 52 which projects outwardly but con centrically beyond the inner sleeve 41 and which Vis internally threaded at 53. Threadedly ad- 4 and to` resistY relative movement between the.

parts. Secured to the inner face 55 of the body 48`is an engaging means in the formof a `friction plate 60. This friction plate 50 has an iriner annular portion 5l which projects inwardly a suflicient distance to engage an inner face 62 of the sleeve 41 in order to act as a stop against which the spring '58 pulls theannular portion 62 of the friction plate 60. This part 6l and the Y face 62 constitute a stop means of the invention,

and it should be understood that any equivalent type' of stop means disassociated from the friction plate 60 may be employed if desired. Rigidly secured to the body 48 is a means whereby the outer sleeve 48 may be rotated. This means is provided in this form of my invention as a driven pulley 65 around which a belt means 65 is extended for driving the torque-operated mechanism or torque-responsive mechanism in the direction indicated bp the arrow 61 of Fig. 5. It should be clearly understood that this drive means is only one of a number of drive means which may be employed. In this particular type of apparatus a belt drive means is provided. It should be understood thatthe equivalent of a belt drive means would be a shaft drive means or a gear drive means or any other mechanism by which the torqueoperated mechanism could be caused to rotate.

The threads 55) and 5l of the torque-operated mechanism are so formed that arotation of the body 48 relative to the sleeve 41 in the direction indicated by the arrow 51 will advance the body 48 relative to the sleeve 41 in a direction indie' cated by the arrow 69 of Fig. 4. However, under normal operating conditions such a movement of these parts does not occur because the spring 55 is so adjusted that it produces a resistive force suicient to resist relative axial movement between the parts in the direction indicated by the arrow B9. This adjustment is accomplished by the adjustable nut 54 which is so positioned in the extension 52 that a predetermined amount of torque may be transmitted from the body 48 to the sleeve 41 without relative movement between the parts. When the torque requiredto drive This nut 54 constitutes but one The purpose of the spring 56 is to the body 48 and the driven means exceeds this predetermined value, the body 48 will rotate relative to the sleeve 41 and as a consequence the body 48 will move in a direction indicated by the arrow 69. 'I'his axial movement in the direction of the arrow 69 continues until the end of the thread 58 engages a shoulder 18 of the body 48, at which time the body 48 has a positive driving engagement with the sleeve 41. This constitutes the means ofv my invention for producing a positive driving engagement between the two elements 48 and 41 of the torque-operated mechanism and between the drive and driven means of the combination. In the combination in which my invention'is shown herein, under normal operating conditions the apparatus will be shut down before this positive drive is established, but during the starting of the apparatus this positive drive is utilized, as will be pointed out in the course of thefollowing description.

As shown in Fig. l, the belt means 66 extends over a drive pulley 12 of a drive motor 13. This drive motor 13 represents a drive means of my invention and the term drive means is intended to cover any equivalent mechanism.

The torque-operated mechanism or the torqueresponsive means is adapted in the form of my invention shown herein to function in conjunction with what I denominate a torque switch 15 which is shown in detail in Figs. 3, 6, and 7. This torque switch includes a housing 16 which is suitably supported such as by being secured to the reduction gear unit 34. Rotatably supported by a supporting wall 11 of this housing 16 is a shaft 18 having an arm or lever 19 secured to the inner end thereof, this lever being preferably adjustable on the shaft 18. I'he lever 19 depends from the shaft 18 and has at its lower end a plurality of engaging members 88 which are adapted to support a mercury switch 8| or its equivalent. The mercury switch 8| includes a pair of terminals 82 and B3 as shown in Fig. 3, both of which are in Contact with a body of mercury 84 when the switch is in closed position, as shown in Fig. 3. Supported by the shaft 18 between the wall 11 and the arm 19 is a small gear 86 which is engaged by a larger gear 81 which is mounted on a shaft 88, the shaft 88 being provided with a spring 89 which tends to rotate same in a direction indicated by the arrow 99 of Fig. 3. This is the direction which will rotate the shaft 88 so that the gears 81 and 86 rotate the shaft 18 in such direction that the arm 19 will support the mercury switch 8| in an open position. The shaft 88 extends outwardly through the wall 11 of the housing 16 and has a short arm or cam member 92 secured to the end thereof, this arm being adapted to be engaged by an adjustable engager 93 which is adjustably secured to the upper end of a lever 94. The lever 94 is pivoted on a shaft 95 and is resiliently urged in a direction indicated by the arrow 96 of Fig. '7 by means of a tension spring 91 which is placed under a desired tension by an adjusting means 98. The spring 91 opposes the spring 89 and is so adjusted that it exerts a force stronger than that exerted by the spring 89, with the result 'that the switch 8| is supported in a closed position. This lever 94 has a downwardly projecting arm 99 to which an engager |00 is adjustably secured, as shown in Fig. '1.

This engager, as shown in Fig. 3, extends outwardly or leftwardly so that the end thereof rests in a position adjacent the inner face of the friction plate 60. This engager is in such a position that when the friction plate 60 moves in a rightward direction, as indicated by the dotted lines |82 of Fig. 3, it will be engaged and the lever will be swung into a position such as indicated by the broken lines |03 of Fig. 1. When the lever oecupies the broken line position, the short arm 92 follows the engager 93 due to the action or" the spring 89, with the result that the mercury switch moves into such a position that the body of mercury 84 is removed from contact with the contact 83, and in this manner the torque switch is opened. It will therefore be seen that in the preferred form of my invention disclosed herein, when the torque-operated mechanism is used in conjunction with a torque switch, should the torque required to operate the driven means increase above a predetermined amount, the body 4B will move in a direction indicated by the arrow 69 and the friction .plate will be caused to engage the engager |98, thus opening the mercury switch 8| which constitutes a part of the torque switch 15. When the term torque switch" is used, it is understood that I mean any type of switch operated by the torque-operated mechanism or any other structure which may be used in conjunction with the torque-operated mechanism for deenergizing or stopping the driving action of the drive member on the driven member.

In the apparatus shown, there is provided a speed-responsive means generally indicated by the numeral |09. Since this mechanism does not represent a part of the present invention, the details of construction of this mechanism are not disclosed in this application. Reference should be had to my copending application referred to heretofore if an understanding of the details of construction of the torque-responsive device is desired.

In order that the mode of operation and important advantages accruing from my invention may be understood, I have disclosed in Fig. 2 a schematic view showing the complete system in which my invention is employed. Referring to Fig. 2, the drive means or electric motor 13 is adapted to be connected to an. electrical energy source |68 by means of an electric circuit |6| which has included therein a main switch |62 which permits energization of the motor 13 only when the main switch is closed. For the purpose of closing the switch |62 there is provided an electrically operated means including a coil |63 which is connected by a wire |64 to the main circuit |6| above or outside the switch |62, as indicated at |65. The wire |64 extends to a control box |61 and is connected to a wire |68 including a starting switch |69. Extending from the starting switch |69 is a wire |18 which is connected to ther main circuit |6| at a point |1|. It will be seen that by closing the starting switch |69, the circuit including the wires |64, |68, and |18 is closed. This circuit may be closed independently of the main switch due to the fact that it is connected to the live side of the main circuit above or outside the main switch. The closing of this circuit energizes the closing coil |63, thus closing the switch |62 in order to supply electrical energy to the motor 13. The motor 13 will continue to operate so long as the starting switch |69 is held closed.

The terminal 82 of the torque switch is connected by a wire |13 to a contact |14 which is engaged when the main switch 62 is closed. The terminal 83 of the torque switch 15 is connected by a wire |15 to a terminal |42 of a speed switch |34 which constitutes a part of the speed-responsive means employed in the apparatus. Connectmovement between said elements an axial movement is produced; means for resisting relative axial movement between said elements; and stop means for limiting relative movement between said elements in either direction.

4. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of: a driven element; a drive element journalled on said driven element; cam means for providing a driving engagement between said elements whereby upon a rotational movement between said elements an axial movement is produced; an extension on said drive element; a nut adjustably mounted in said extension; a spring compressed between said nut and said driven element for resisting relative axial movement between said elements; and stop means for limiting relative movement between said elements.

5. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of: a driven element; a drive element journalled on said driven element; cam means for providing a driving engagement between said elements whereby upon a rotational movement between said elements an axial movement is produced; means for resisting relative axial movement between said elements; and a stop plate secured to said drive element at one end thereof and engageable by said driven element.

6. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination cf: a driven element; a drive element journalled on said driven element; cam means for providing a driving engagement between said elements whereby upon a rotational movement between said elements an axial movement is produced; an extension on said drive element; a nut adjustably mounted in said extension; a spring compressed between said nut and said driven element for resisting relative axial movement between said elements; and a stop plate secured to said drive element at one end thereof and engageable by said driven element.

7. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a driven element; a drive element journailed on said driven element; earn means for providing a driving engagement between said elements whereby upon a rotational movement between said elements an axial movement is produced; means for resisting relative axial movement between said elements; a stop plate secured to said drive element at one end thereof and engageable by said driven element; and switch means adapted to be engaged by said stop plate when relative movement between said driven and drive elements takes place.

8. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of: a driven element; a drive element journalled on said driven element; cam means for providing a driving engagement between said elements whereby upon a rotational movement between said elements an axial movement is produced; an extension on said drive element; a nut adjustably mounted in said extension; a spring compressed between said nut and said driven element for resisting relative axial movement between said elements; a stop plate secured to said drive element at one end thereof and engageable by said driven element; and switch means adapted to be engaged by said stop plate when relative movement between said driven and drive elements takes place.

9. In a mechanism of the class describe, the combination of: a driven element; a drive element journalled on said driven element; cam means for providing a driving engagement between said elements whereby upon a rotational movement between said elements an axial movement is produced; means for resisting relative axial movement between said elements; a stop plate secured to said drive element at one end thereof and engageable by said driven element; and control means adapted to be engaged by said stop plate when relative movement between said driven and drive elements takes place.

10. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of: a driven element; a drive element; means for providing driving engagement between said driven element and said drive element, said means causing a predetermined relative movement between said driven element and said drive element when the torque required to drive said driven element becomes abnormal; and positive drive means whereby said drive element drives said driven element when said predetermined relative movement has occurred.

11. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a driven element; a drive element; means for providing driving engagement between said driven element and said drive element, said means causing a predetermined relative movement between said driven element and said drive element when the torque required to drive said driven element becomes abnormal; positive drive means whereby said drive element drives said driven element when said predetermined relative movement has occurred; and control means operable by one of said elements before said positive drive is established.

l2. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a driven element; a drive element; means for providing driving engagement between said driven element and said drive element, said means causing an axial movement between said driven element and said drive element when the torque required to drive said driven element becomes abnormal; and positive drive means whereby said drive element drives said driven element when said predetermined relative movement has occurred.

GUGLIELMO TREMOLADA. 

